Gaillardia plant named ‘Sunset Halo’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Gaillardia named ‘Sunset Halo’ that is distinguishable by a compact and dense plant habit and large brightly bicolored inflorescences which are red in their centers with a wide outer yellow ring is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gaillardia x grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunset Halo’.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant, also known as a blanket flower, an herbaceous perennial that is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and container plant. The new variety is known botanically as Gaillardia x grandiflora and will be referred to hereinafter by the variety name ‘Sunset Halo’. Gaillardia is in the family Compositae, under which the commonly referred to “flower” is actually the inflorescence, and made up of smaller ray florets and disc florets. The ray florets themselves have the appearance of “petals”.

‘Sunset Halo’ originated and was selected from a large population of hybrid seedlings from a Gaillardia breeding program started in 2006. The breeding program was conducted in a greenhouse nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The aims of the breeding program were to produce novel combinations of flower colors and flower forms which are borne on well-branched plants with sturdy growth habits. The inventors carried out a controlled hybridization using combinations of selected named varieties and selected unnamed and unreleased seedlings retained from previous breeding cycles. ‘Sunset Halo’ was selected in 2013 for its large flowers comprised of two rows (layers) of bicolored (two-thirds red and one-third yellow) ray florets. ‘Sunset Halo’ flowers continually from spring until fall. ‘Sunset Halo’ was also selected for its compact and dense branching habit and its short flower stems.

The hybridization which led to the selection of ‘Sunset Halo’ was carried out during 2012 using a proprietary unreleased seedling known as ‘1051-1’ (unpatented) as the male parent and a proprietary unreleased seedling known as ‘1039-1’ (unpatented) as the female parent.

‘Sunset Halo’ was first asexually propagated in September 2014 in a greenhouse at the inventors nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom using shoot cuttings taken from lateral branches. ‘Sunset Halo’ has been proven stable and to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Sunset Halo’. ‘Sunset Halo’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Sunset Halo’ exhibits a compact and dense branching plant         habit.     -   2. ‘Sunset Halo’ exhibits single inflorescences composed of two         close layers of flat ray florets.     -   3. The ray florets are markedly bicolored red and yellow, that         is red towards the base and yellow towards the apex such that         the whole inflorescence appears to have a bright yellow outer         ring or halo.     -   4. The disc of ‘Sunset Halo’ is deep red in color when the         inflorescence is fully expanded.     -   5. ‘Sunset Halo’ blooms continually from early spring until late         fall.     -   6. ‘Sunset Halo’ is very floriferous over a long blooming         period.     -   7. After one year's growth in a 3-liter container, ‘Sunset Halo’         is 30 cm to 35 cm in height and 35 cm to 40 cm in width.     -   8. ‘Sunset Halo’ is hardy in USDA zone 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Gaillardia cultivar ‘Sunset Halo’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describes the actual colors of the new variety ‘Sunset Halo’.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of ‘Sunset Halo’ which has been grown in a frost-free greenhouse in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The illustrated plant is one year old and has been grown without any pinching or chemical growth regulator.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the fully expanded inflorescence of ‘Sunset Halo’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Sunset Halo’. Observations, measurements, values, and comparisons were collected in August 2020 in Santa Barbara, Calif. from a one year old plant grown outdoors in full sun in freely drained proprietary peat-based potting soil. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Compositae.         -   Genus.—Gaillardia.         -   Species.—X grandiflora.         -   Common name.—Blanket flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Gaillardia code number ‘1039-1’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Gaillardia code number ‘1051-1’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings.         -   Root system.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 20 days are             needed to develop roots on initial cuttings.         -   Temperatures to initiate rooting.—The recommended air             temperature is 20-21° Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—Approximately 10 weeks to 2 months are needed to             produce a finished 15 cm diameter container plant from a             rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit.—Compact and naturally freely branching.         -   Suggested container size.—15 cm container.         -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container             plant.         -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant dimensions.—After one year's growth in a 3-liter             container: 30 cm to 35 cm in height and 35 cm to 40 cm in             width.         -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water,             and well-draining soil such as loam.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.         -   Growing requirements.—If grown outside in regions which             experience winter freezing, ‘Sunset Halo’ may be started as             a cutting during the spring or summer of the previous year,             planted out prior to the onset of winter, and flowering will             commence typically in May or June according to the region             and season. When grown outside in frost-free regions, or in             frost-protected greenhouses, ‘Sunset Halo’ will flower             virtually all year round and may be started as a cutting             (which should be non-flowering) at any time of year.         -   Pinching.—Plants may be pinched or stopped at approximately             5 cm to 8 cm above soil level in order to encourage prolific             lateral branching. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Prolific branching after initial pinch.         -   Stem color.—141C.         -   Stem length.—Basal stem below first branch: 5 cm to 8 cm             depending on height of pinch. Lateral branches: 8 cm to 12             cm.         -   Stem diameter.—5 mm to 6 mm (basal stem), 4 mm (lateral             stems).         -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical, slightly fluted longitudinally.         -   Stem surface.—Markedly villous with dense coverage of very             fine silvery hairs, approximately 3 mm to 4 mm in length.         -   Internode distance (average).—2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaf dimensions.—7.0 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—141C.         -   Leaf venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color (both surfaces).—As leaf, 141C, except midrib             lighter (both surfaces) 138D.         -   Leaf surface (both surfaces).—Pubescent, very fine silvery             hairs, lighter than 156D, approximately 3 mm in length.         -   Fragrance.—A slight sage-like scent when bruised. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Solitary.         -   Aspect.—Facing upward.         -   Dimensions of inflorescence.—70 mm in diameter and 15 mm in             height.         -   Inflorescence type.—Radiate capitate with central disc.         -   Disc diameter (inflorescence fully expanded).—26 mm.         -   Inflorescence number per plant.—A one-year old plant bears             approximately 35 to 40 open and opening inflorescences, and             15 to 20 buds (green, prior to coloring) at one time.         -   Blooming season.—Spring, summer and fall.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—7 days, reducing             to 4 days in full sun in mid-summer. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—5 cm to 8 cm in length and 2.0 mm in             diameter.         -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Peduncle surface.—Surface is pubescent and exhibits             longitudinal ridges.         -   Peduncle color.—141C where unexposed beneath the plant             canopy, becoming 182B where exposed to direct sunlight.         -   Peduncle strength.—Stiff. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Bud shape.—Globular whorl.         -   Bud dimensions (before opening and coloring).—15 mm in             diameter and height.         -   Bud color.—141C.         -   Bud surface.—Villous. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Shape.—Cuneate.         -   Surface texture.—Adaxial surface: Pubescent. Abaxial             surface: Glabrous.         -   Arrangement.—Radiate, arranged in two close layers.         -   Number of ray florets per inflorescence.—45 to 55.         -   Margins of ray florets.—Entire.         -   Dimensions.—22 mm to 25 mm in length including the corolla             tube, 7 mm in width at the widest point.         -   Apex.—Rounded, occasionally notched (2 or 3 notches), notch             depth up to 3 mm.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Corolla tube dimensions.—5 mm in depth and 0.5 mm in             diameter.         -   Ray floret color (both surfaces).—Red 46C to 46D for             two-thirds of length from the base and yellow 6A for             one-third of length from the apex.         -   Ray floret veins (both surfaces).—Longitudinal, parallel,             fine but prominent, visible in petal blade as darker red             46C, not visible in yellow lobes.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity of disc florets per inflorescence.—Numerous,             approximately 200 to 250.         -   Disc floret dimensions (including pistil length).—9 mm in             length and 2.5 mm in width.         -   Depth of disc floret corolla tube.—6 mm.         -   Surface of disc florets.—Lanate.         -   Color of disc florets (inflorescence fully expanded, both             surfaces).—46D.         -   Phyllary.—Dimensions: 5.50 cm in diameter and 3 cm in             length. Color: 147B. Arrangement: Whorl.         -   Involucral bracts.—Number: An average of 25 per             inflorescence. Shape: Oblanceolate. Dimensions: 2 cm in             length and 0.50 cm in width. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Color (both surfaces): 141C. Surface texture             (both surfaces): Pubescent.         -   Fragrance of inflorescence.—Sweet honey-like. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens (present on disc florets only).—Number: Three,             adnate to inner surface of corolla tube. Dimensions: 0.2 mm             in width and 5 mm in length. Color: 17A. Form: Plumose.             Anther: Dimensions: 0.50 mm in length and 1 mm in width.             Color: 187A. Shape: Narrow lanceolate. Pollen: Present.             Quantity: Large amount. Color: 17C.         -   Pistil (present on ray florets and disc florets).—Number:             One per floret. Length: 12 mm. Style dimensions: 2 mm in             length and 1 mm in width. Style color: 150D. Stigma:             Dimensions: 8 mm in length and 1.75 mm in width. Form:             Plumose. Color: 187A. Shape: Bifurcate. Ovary: Position:             Inferior. Color: 150D. Shape: Globose. Dimensions: 1 mm in             width and 2 mm in height. -   Seeds:     -   -   Number of seeds.—Small to moderate amount (ranges from 50 to             100 seeds per inflorescence.         -   Seed dimensions.—5 mm to 6 mm in length (including hairs at             apex) and 1 to 2 mm in diameter.         -   Seed color.—200A.         -   Seed shape.—Conical with rounded base and apex.         -   Seed surface.—Smooth except at apex where many very fine             silver hairs, up to 2 mm in length, are present in circular             groups. -   Disease and pest susceptibility: ‘Sunset Halo’ has not been observed     to exhibit any resistance to any particular pest or disease. ‘Sunset     Halo’ is susceptible to downy mildew and to thrips as may be typical     of Gaillardia.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

Whereas both parent varieties bear bicolored red and yellow inflorescences. The inflorescences of ‘Sunset Halo’ are brighter and more sharply contrasting with a wider concentric yellow outer ring. ‘Sunset Halo’ also exhibits a more compact and dense growth habit than either parent.

The variety of Gaillardia which is considered to most closely resemble ‘Sunset Halo’ is the inventors' variety Gaillardia ‘Sunset Cutie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,970). The inventors consider that ‘Sunset Halo’ is a marked commercial improvement on ‘Sunset Cutie’ in that ‘Sunset Halo’ is shorter and more dense in habit, and bears flowers (inflorescences) which are brighter in color, with a wider yellow outer ring. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant named ‘Sunset Halo’ as described and illustrated herein. 